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A definitive number of atoms on demand: controlling the number of atoms in a-few-atom magneto-optical trap

Seokchan Yoon·Youngwoon Choi·Sangbum Park·Jaisoon Kim·Jai-Hyung Lee·Kyungwon An
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Abstract

A few 85Rb atoms were trapped in a micron-size magneto-optical trap with a high quadrupole magnetic-field gradient and the number of atoms was precisely controlled by suppressing stochastic loading and loss events via real-time feedback on the magnetic field gradient. The measured occupation probability of single atom was as high as 99%. Atoms up to five were also trapped with high occupation probabilities. The present technique could be used to make a deterministic atom source.

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Seokchan Yoon, Youngwoon Choi, Sangbum Park, Jaisoon Kim, Jai-Hyung Lee, Kyungwon An. 2006-04-11. A definitive number of atoms on demand: controlling the number of atoms in a-few-atom magneto-optical trap. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2206118

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